Fort Erie students headed to Skills Canada National competition

Hamilton Spectator

19-05-2025

Two Greater Fort Erie Secondary School (GFESS) students are heading to the Skills Canada National competition in Regina, Sask., later this month after capturing gold medals in their respective categories at the Skills Ontario competition.
Autumn Wartman, a Grade 12 student and kitchen manager at the school's student-run restaurant, The Pomegranate, won gold in the job skill demonstration category with a crêpe-making tutorial.
It's her second year competing after winning bronze at the national level last year.
'This year, I was excited and not scared,' she said. 'I just knew that last year I had so much fun getting to go to a different province (to compete) for a week.'
Angel Blackwood, also in Grade 12, took gold in the prepared speech category. Her oration focused on a lack of representation in cosmetology curriculum, specifically the absence of instruction on textured hair.
'Winning wouldn't just mean getting a medal, it would mean showing that this experience is something that (I) just faced, but other people also face,' she said. 'It means (getting) more representation and showing that this is something that needs to be changed.'
Both students credit their culinary arts teacher, Afshin Keyvani. Wartman has been working with him weekly after school since her first year competing.
'Every Wednesday after school we practised, which I think is probably the reason why I've been so successful, he's so dedicated.'
Wartman discovered her love for baking during the COVID-19 lockdowns and transferred to GFESS in Grade 10 for its culinary program. She said Skills Ontario has helped her grow personally and professionally.
'It's just kind of getting to see how everything pays off,' she said. 'I'm just excited and happy to have done it, and really proud of what I've done.'
Blackwood, who moved to Fort Erie from Brampton four years ago, also worked closely with Keyvani to develop her speech and prepare for competition.
'He came up to me in the hallway and was telling me a little bit about the competition and to explore public speaking, to try new things,' she said. 'So I got involved with it and then immediately the cosmetology situation popped into my head.'
Her efforts have already helped bring change.
When she was in Grade 11, Blackwood began speaking with District School Board of Niagara's equity, diversity and inclusion advisers, who helped bring textured hair tools into cosmetology classrooms. But she said more work is needed.
'It's not just the (tools) being put in the classes,' she said. 'But that the lessons are being taught and tailored toward that hair texture as well.'
School principal Jessica Folino said Blackwood's speech has sparked change at the school and beyond.
'She's leaving a legacy behind,' Folino said. 'Her experience was heard (and) we've had students work with instructors from different salons that work with Black hair and textured hair. Her experience has driven a lot of the improvement that we've seen.'
Keyvani, who has led students to Skills Canada Nationals several times in his 20-plus years of teaching, said both students represent what these skills competitions are about.
'They have to do their job, they have to attend the practices, communicate their needs with their teachers, then they're going to be successful in the long run,' he said.
'They're going to learn those transferable skills. (Students) that competed (in) the last 20 years, they're all doing great in life. They're chefs, they're teachers, they're in positions of authority.'
Blackwood is considering a career in veterinary science, but plans to keep cosmetology in her life.
'Mainly, I want to become a veterinarian, but I do want to work with hair still and learn more about it. My auntie does hair as well,' she said.
Wartman is headed to Niagara College in the fall for its baking and pastry arts program. She said competing has helped shape her future.
'Just being able to show off your skills and your interests in a competition opens up so many opportunities, like scholarships, apprenticeships and jobs in the future,' she said.
Folino said the entire school is proud of the two students.
'They are wonderful representatives for not only GFESS but for DSBN,' she said. 'They're making us so proud, themselves proud, and their families proud.'
The 2025 Skills Canada National Competition runs May 29 and 30 in Regina, where both Blackwood and Wartman will compete as part of Team Ontario.